Tap



F. E. RICE TAP Aug. 30, 1938.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 3. 1951 llll MEU F. E. RICE Aug. 30, 1938.

TAP

Filed July 3, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug.

STATES ATENT orrie can Tap-Bush Company, poration of Delaware Application July 3, 1937,

(crass-40) 6 Claims. The present invention relates to a tap and more particularly to a tap construction for use with dispensing of beer and other beverages from barrels.

Experience has demonstrated that in connection with the dispensing of beer from barrels by means of taps applied to the barrels, the bartenders, when connecting the taps to the barrels, use mallets for striking the ears or handles of the couplings of the taps to tighten the taps against the tap bushes in leak-tight relationship. Such practice often results in the destruction of the sealing washers interposed between the taps and the bushes, as undue pressure is applied to such washers when tools are used for tightening the taps to the bushes. Whenever such washers become damaged to an extent as to become'ineffective for properly sealing the taps to bushes, the bartenders or other tap users, instead of re-, placing the worn washers return the taps to the tap manufacturer for replacement. It has been found that users of many taps, as in large saloons, tap-rooms, hotels, clubs and the like, whenever the washers are prematurely worn out because of the above practice, the users sometimes discard the taps of a particular manufacturer and supplant them with taps of another manufacturer, thus placing the blame on the manufacturer which blame properly belongs to the bartender.

The present invention is directed to tap construction wherein the sealing washer, for sealing the tap to its bush, is constructed as a ring of substantial axial thickness, and with the topand bottom faces fiat and parallel.

The present invention relates to a tap construction wherein the sealing Washer is carried by a tap in such manner as to be at all times retained on the tap regardless of the amount of wear experienced by the washer.

An object of the present invention is to provide a tap construction wherein the usual flat, thin washer is eliminated and a washer of greater axial thickness used, so as to prolong the life of the washer, even when a tap may be connected to a barrel by undue pressure applied, as for instance, by the use of a mallet for tightening the coupling ring of the tap, and in which a sleeve is utilized to prevent radial spread of the washer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide in a tap construction, an arrangement whereby a sealing washer carried by the tap may be prevented from radial displacement when axial pressure is applied to 'the washer, so that even though the washer wears away on its face which invention is Detroit, Mich, a cor- Serial No. 151,776

contacts the bush, there is present at all times restraint against spread.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tap construction in which a sleeve cooperates with the tap casing to provide a space for a sealing washer and which sleeve also serves as a means for preventing accidental displacement of the coupling from the tap when the cou-' pling ring is unthreaded from the coupling and the tap removed from a bush.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a beer barrel tap construction wherein the sealing washer is restrained against radial spread regardless of the amount of axial pressure applied to the washer in connecting the tap to a bush.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a tap construction wherein a sealing washer is retained between the tap casing and a sleeve applied over the casing so that the sleeve may impose restraint against outward spread of the washer as the tap is tightened against a bush.

Another and still further object of the present to provide a tap bush having a switch provided with a washer contacting surface which is convex in cross-section to cooperate with a sealing washer, to effect a joint between the switch and washer which is of concavoconvex form.

Another and still further object of the present invention is to provide a tap bush having a switch provided with a washer contacting surface which is convex in cross-section and with substantially semi-annular ledges extending outwardly from such surface for effecting hooking engagement with the lugs on the tap coupling.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the present invention and the views thereof are as follows:

Figure 1 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in vertical section, of a tap constructed in accordance with the present invention, applied to. a bush of the present invention, with the tap connected to the bush in sealing relationship, and showing the sealing washer as it appears when new.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken substantially in the plane indicated by line II-II of Figure 1, turned through 90.

Figure 3 is an elevational view of the sleeve of Figure 1, taken at 180 from the position of the sleeve in Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a fragmental vertical central sectional view through a portion of the tap casing and coupling.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the coupling of the illustrated form of tap.

Figure 6 is a fragmental vertical sectional view through the tap and bush of the present invention, showing relationship of the parts after the sealing washer has been Worn, showing the sleeve abutting the ledges on the bush switch.

Figure 7 is an elevational view of the sleeve which is applied over the sealing washer from radial spread.

Figure 8 is a plan View of the upper end of the sleeve.

Figure 9 is a plan view of the tap bush of the present invention.

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the broken line indicated at XX in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a vertical sectional view through the bush taken substantially in the plane indicated by line XI-XI of Figure 9.

The drawings will now be explained:

The tap illustrated in Figure 1 is, as to outward appearances, that of a known form, and includes a body A, a coupling B, a coupling ring C with the usual angular connection D for application of a hose to supply pressure to the interior of the barrel with which the tap is used.

The upper end of the body A is provided with a nut I having handles 2 thereon, which nut serves to compress a tube washer, not shown, disposed in a recess in the upper end of the body, for clamping a draught tube in the tap, as is common practice.

The coupling ring C is provided with outstanding ears 3 whereby thering may be rotated to connect or disconnect the coupling B with respect to a tap bush E.

The tap bush E of the present invention, is formed as a casting or forging with the usual central upstanding cylindrical neck 4, which receives the draught tube F and which, at its upper or outer end, has a face section, against which the sealing washer of the tap is forced, to seal the tap to the bush. Integrally formed with the neck 4, and outstanding from the face 5 are ledges 6 and 7 which are substantially horizontal when viewed in the position of the several figures of the drawings and whose ends are spaced at S and 9 to provide gaps through which the lugs 38, 39 on the coupling B of the tap may pass so as to engage underneath the flanges to lock the tap to the bush in the usual manner. As may be observed from the drawings, the upper surfaces of the ledges 6 and I lie below the convex washer engaging face 5 of the switch. Lugs it and H are formed in the bush for engagement by a suitable tool for inserting a bush in place in a barrel head. a

The radial extent of the upper end of the neck 4 forming the washer engaging surface 5 is no greater than the radial extent of the neck, exclusive of the ledges 6 and "i. Also integrally formed with the bush structure are vertically directed ribs it which are positioned at similar sides of the cutaway portions 8 and $3 to prevent rotative movement of the coupling B belond certain limits.

The neck i, surface 5 and the ledges 6 and I constitute a so-called switch.

The body A has an integral portion herein for convenience termed, the casing, which casing 13 receives the draught tube F and whose lower end is provided with an extension is whose external the tap casing to restrain .herein as square.

5, which is convex in cross-' diameter is less than the diameter of the casing immediately above it. Surrounding this extension M of the casing is a ring washer G of substantial .axial thickness and having its top and bottom surface i5 and i6 fiat and parallel. The washer is made of rubber or rubber composition of such characteristics as to effect proper sealing between the body and the bush, and at the same time wear well under the conditions of use,

The ring washer G is fashioned with two outstanding lugs I! and I8 integrally formed and which in end view, are polygonal, being shown Preferably the upper margins of these lugs coincide with the top face E5 of the ring washer.

The radial depth of the ring washer G is substantially that of the distance between the exterior surface of the extension M of the casing and the outer diameter of the casing adjacent its lower end.

The casing I3 is provided with the usual outstanding, diametrically opposed guide lugs l9 and 2-0 to cooperate with notches 49a and a formed in the coupling B for preventing rotative movement. of the coupling on the casing when the coupling ring C is rotated to couple or uncouple the coupling to the tap bush. The lugs 49 and 211 are of sufiicient axial length to permit axial movement of the coupling on the casing occasioned by connection and disconnection of the coupling to its bush, in accordance with common practice.

Surrounding the casing is and the sealing washer G is a sleeve H fashioned preferably of spring bronze seamless tubing and arranged to closely fit the casing.

The sleeve H has in its rear part an elongated slot 2| which receives the ing 20 on the tap casing. Opposite the slot 2| and laterally disposed with respect to the median line of the sleeve, the sleeve is slotted at 22 and 23 and also at 24. The slots Hand 23 are narrow and diverge upwardly from viding shoulders respectively, which when the sleeve is applied to thehcasing, engage with hooked action against the upper margin of the lug E9. The length of the sleeve is such that when the shoulders 28 and 29 are against the upper margin of the lug l9, the lower margin of the sleeve The Wings and 26 at their upper or free ends stand away from the casing l3 and also outwardly away from the general cylindrical surface of the sleeve H, as may be observed in Figures 2, 4 and 7.

The coupling ring C is rotatably supported on the casing l3 by means of lugs or ears 3!] which work within a recess 3! formed on the exterior of the casing by means of axially spaced flanges 32 and 3 3. The ring is made generally in two complemental parts which are riveted together at 34 tocomplete the structure. The interior of the ring is threaded to threadedly engage the upper end 36 of the coupling B, as is common practice.

The coupling B is preferably elongated axially so that the ears 3 of the coupling ring may be spaced sufficiently far from the head of the barrel to which the tap is attached, as to permit operation of the coupling ring without injury to the fingers or hands of the attendant.

The upper end of the coupling B has a cylindrical portion 31, which is interrupted by the notches l9 and 29*, the diameter of which portion 31 is but slightly greater than the exterior diameter of the sleeve H. The lower end of the coupling B is provided with the usual inturned lugs 38 and 39 which engage against the under surfaces of the ledges 6 and 1 to hold the tap in connected relation to the tap bush, as may be observed in Figures 1 and 6.

When the tap is to be applied to a bush E, the coupling ring C is rotated in a direction to move the coupling B toward the lower end of the tap so as to space the lugs 38 and 39 a sufficient distance from the adjacent end of the tap as to allow application of the lugs to the ledges 6 and 'i of the switch of the bush. The tapis applied to the tap bush by passing lugs 38 and 39 through the gaps 8 and 9 and then turning the tap until the lugs abut the ribs l2 of the bush whereupon the coupling ring C is rotated in a direction to cause relative movement between the tap and the bush and draw the tap tightly against the surface of the switch of the bush in sealing relation.

When the sealing washer G is new, as shown in Figs. 4 and 1, the lower face thereof, I6, is adjacent the extremity of the extension I i of the casing and substantially in register with the lower margin of the sleeve H. When the tap is tightened against the bush switch, endwise pressure applied to the sealing washer G by manipulation of the coupling ring C, compresses the washer and causes portions of its lower face to flow about the convex surface 5 of the switch in tight sealing relation.

After the tap has been tightly applied to its bush, a draft tube F is inserted through the tap in the usual manner and held in place therein by tightening of the nut l to compress the washer in the upper end of the tap against the tube in holding relation.

As the relative movement of the tap and easing l3 and coupling B occurs, by reason of the rotative movement of the coupling ring C, a portion of the circumferential interior 31 of the coupling bears against the extremities of the wings 25 and 29 of the sleeve H and presses the wings inwardly a slight amount, as may be observed in Fig. 2. This pressure applied to the wings is such that when the coupling ring is disconnected from the coupling B there will be suflicient frictional engagement between the wings and the coupling to prevent accidental loss or dislodgment of the coupling B from the casing when the tap is disconnected from a bush.

No matter how much pressure is applied to the ears 3 of the coupling ring C to tighten the tap to its bush, the provision of the sleeve 1-1 will prevent radial spread or bulge of the sealing washer G.

As the sealing washer G wears, which it is bound to do, following successive applications of a tap to a bush, the sleeve H still affords the same radial restraint against spread. Eventually when the tap is applied to a bush, the lower margin of the sleeve H will rest against the ledges 6 and l of the switch, as shown in Fig. 6, thus serving to prevent displacement of any portion of the sealing washer outwardly of the space between the extension M of the casing and the sleeve, thereby assuring a tight concavo-convex sealing relationship between the sealing washer and the switch.

By reason of the fact that the top or face 5 of the switch is convex, the sealing washer G will be deformed, along its lower portion, when the tap is tightened against the bush, to make substantial surface engagement between the sealing washer and the switch thereby eiiectively sealing the tap to its bush. The fact that the sealing washer G is restrained against radial spread or bulge increases the sealing effect.

In the manufacture of the bush of the present invention, the thickness of the neck 4, and therefore the thickness of the surface 5, is less than the radial distance between the exterior of the extension M of the casing and the interior of the sleeve I-I, thus limiting the area of surface engagement of the sealing washer with respect to the surface 5 to this zone.

The sleeve H is provided with suitable openings to receive the lugs l1 and I8 of the sealing washer which openings are contoured to the shape of these lugs. Such an opening is indicated at 49 in Figure i and in Figure 1.

As continued Wear of the sealing washer G occurs, successive applications of the tap to a bush will eventually move the sleeve with respect to the projections I1 and IB- of the sealing washer and shear oif portions of the same.

The shearing off of the portions H and ll! of the sealing washer, just mentioned, is of no great importance as long as portions of these extensions remain within the openings 38 in the sleeve to prevent loss of the washer from the tap when the tap is disconnected from a bush.

The sleeve H will, as the washer G wears, ride up the casing of the tap, which it may do because of the provision of the slots 2! and 2 receiving the lugs l9 and 29. The wings 25 and 26 have been shown as separated at their upper ends by the slot Z'L The present invention provides a tap construction wherein prolonged life is given to the sealing washer employed to effect a leak-tight joint between a tap and its bush. Theconstruction is such that even though abnormal pressure be ap plied to the coupling ring C to tighten the tap to a bush sufficient to abrade or otherwise mutilate the sealing washer, nevertheless, the washer is maintained in such a condition as to efiect leaktight sealing relationship between the tap and bush until the washer is worn so thin as to make it necessary for its removal and the substitution of a new one.

To apply a new sealing washer in the place of a worn one, the sleeve is removed from the casing by prying the wings over the lug l9 whereupon the sleeve may be slid off the lower end of the casing. With the sleeve off the casing, the old washer may be removed and a new one applied whereupon the sleeve with a new washer in it is then slid over the casing until the shoulders of the wings hook over the lug IS).

The wings 25 and 26 are bent out of the surface of the sleeve H for the purpose of ease of application of the sleeve to the tap casing and so that the sleeve may pass the lug 19. When the coupling B is applied to the casing, the extremities of the wings turn inwardly slightly, so that the shoulders 21 and 29 of the wings will overlie the lug Hi to thereby prevent loss or removal of the sleeve.

The invention has been described more or less precisely as to details, yet it is not to' be limited thereby, as changes may be made in the arrangement and proportion of parts, and equivalents may be substituted, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. In combination, a tap and a tap bush, said bush including a switch, a coupling axially movable along said tap and having threads about its upper end and lugs on its lower end to engage said switch, a coupling ri g rotatable on said tap and having threads for connection to and disconnection from said coupling, said tap and coupling having cooperating lugs and notches for preventing relative rotative movement thereof while allowing relative axial movement, and a sleeve about said tap and having a deflected part acting with hook action against a tap lug for preventing loss of the sleeve from the tap when the tap is disconnected from a bush and the ring is disconnected from the coupling.

2. In combination, a tap and a tap bush, said bush including a switch, a coupling axially movable along said tap and having threads about its upper end and lugs on its lower end to engage said switch, a coupling ring rotatable on said tap and having threads for connection to and disconnection from said coupling, said tap and coupling having cooperating lugs and notches for preventing relative rotative movement thereof while allowing relative axial movement, a sleeve about said tap and having a deflected part acting with hook action against a lug on said tap for preventing loss of the sleeve from the tap when the tap is disconnected from a bush and the ring is disconnected from the coupling, said sleeve cooperating with said tap to provide a pocket for a sealing washer and effective to prevent radial spread of the washer when axial pressure is applied to connect the tap to a bush, and a sealing washer within said pocket.

3 In combination, a tap and a tap bush, said tap including a casing, a sleeve movable along said casing in frictional engagement therewith, said sleeve and casing defining a space for receiv-- ing a sealing washer, a sealing washer within said space, said tap bush having a switch provided with a washer engaging surface which is convex in cross section, the horizontal cross-sectional ing space, fiat ledges said convex surface in ments for said sleeve projecting outwardly from position toconstitute abutand lying below the said bush, and means for producing relative movement of said tap and switch to compress said sealing washer between said tap and switch surface and within the space defined sleeve, compression of said washer causing the face of the washer in contact with said convex surface to assume substantially the cross-sectional contour of said surface, the construction being such that as repeated applications of the tap to the bush causes wear of the washer contact of the sleeve and abutments causes movement of the sleeve along the casing to maintain said sleeve in position to prevent radial spread of the washer irrespective of the Worn condition of the washer to thereby limit the engagement of the washer to the convex surface of said switch.

4. In combination, a tap and a tap bush, said tap including a casing, a sleeve movable along said casing in frictional engagement therewith, said sleeve and casing defining a space for receiving a sealing washer, a sealing washer within said space, said tap bush having a central neck for surrounding a draft tube which neck is provided with a switch for connection to the tap, the upper end of said neck being formed with a convex bead which is of no greater cross-sectional dimension than the thickness of said neck, flanges integral with said neck and outstanding therefrom and disposed below said convex surface, said sleeve having an end adapted to engage against said flanges when the tap is connected to said bush, said sleeve being engageable with said flanges outwardly of said convex surface for causing move ment of said sleeve along said casing in retrograde direction as repeated applications of the tap to its bush causes wear of the sealing washer, said sleeve engaging said casing with frictional engagement to oppose retrograde movement of the sleeve by engagement of the sleeve with said flanges.

5. A beer barrel or like tap having the usual connecter and threaded coupling ring for connecting the tap .to a bush and having a casing carrying a sealing washer on the end thereof that cooperates with the bush switch, characterized by the provision of a sleeve surrounding the washer to prevent radial spread of the washer when the tap is tightened to its bush by rotation of said coupling ring, and further characterized by the fact that and to maintain restraint against radial spread of the washer regardless of the amount of wear suffered by said Washer within the limits of its axial thickness.

6. A beer barrel or like tap having the usual connecter and threaded coupling ring for connecting the tap to a bush and having a casing carrying a sealing washer on the end thereof that cooperates with the bush switch, characterized by the provision of a slidable sleeve surrounding and frictionally engaging the casing and surrounding said washer to prevent radial spread of the washer in service, the diameter of the sleeve being such that the sleeve contacts the bush switch when the tap is connected to a bush and is movable along said casing in retrograde direction as the washer wears and becomes reduced in axial thickness by reason of such contact and when the tap is again thereby compensate for maintaining its restrainspread of the washer.

FRANK E. RICE. 

